Concept Note: Seminar on History in the Northeast as a source of conflicts and of Peace Initiatives. Guwahati, October27-29, 2009
Northeast India is the abode of many ethnicgroups ranging from the Meitei-Pangal, Naga, Kuki and Mizo in Manipur, Mizoramand Nagaland to the Garo and Khasi in Meghalaya, the Boro, Karbi, Assamese, TaiAhom, Rabha and Dimasa of Assam to the Aka, Adi, Nyishi and others in Arunachaland Tripura. The Brahmaputra and Barak Valleys and the hill areas have distinctcultures, traditions and histories but have co-existed for many centuries amidpeace and cordial relations combined with conflicts as well as social,economic, cultural and political dependence or inter-dependence. In the pastthere were conflicts around land and power. They have got intensified duringthe last one century.
Diversity becomes a problem wheninequalities are based on cultural or racial differences or when groupsperceive each other as a threat to their identity. Identity assertion is oftenbased on contesting claims over a homeland, territory or other resources. Therise of a dominant community adds to the threat and results in an atmosphere ofmistrust and fear of domination. From it grows a feeling of vengeance. Thethreat has heightened in the wake of land and other shortages. Amid the ensuingconflicts groups articulate their identity in linguistic, cultural and ethnicterms. Increasingly the elite turn the cultural systems, values and practicesinto tools of competition for political or economic power.
That explains why poverty, alongwith weak governments and lack of efforts to address the ethnic problems anddevelopmental issues has resulted in a period of instability and armedstruggles. Thus, apart from identity, land, economic benefits, immigration andethnic discrimination, basic to the conflicts is the failure of the Stateinstitutions, lack of a national identity and a low level of state legitimacy.Insecurity grows among the people because of the conflicts that affect allgroups but have a greater impact on the youth. Because of fear enveloping theirsociety the democratic institutions make no sense to most people, especiallythe youth. A gap is thus created between the communities. The imposition of adominant will on the remaining communities can further widen this gap.
History has been a tool in this interactionon one side in protecting the identity of the people and on the other inantagonising them from each other. Each community uses history for its own goodwithout taking the genuine rights of the others into account. Each communityhas rewritten exclusive histories of itself that speak of its own rights to theexclusion of the rest. That shows the need to have a mature intellectual debateon this issue in order to make a contribution to sustainable peace. A possiblealternative is a composite history that shifts the focus from conflicts tointeractions between different communities, both cooperative and divisive.Today the focus is on divisive relations alone. That shows the need to take anew look at the history of the Northeast and take steps towards a possible compositehistory that moves away from the exclusive ethnic histories which legitimiseconflicts. A composite history will not solve the problems that result inethnic conflicts in the region but can be an important step towards a solution.This step can support the initiatives of many civil society groups that haveplayed an important role in addressing the causes of ethnic conflicts in theregion.
Thus, most ethnic conflicts emanatefrom ethnic consciousness and nationalist aspirations. Many of them are aroundland that is not only an economic commodity but also the centre of the cultureand identity of most communities of the region. Since identity, land and otherresources are inseparable, identity assertion is central to the effort toprotect the natural resources. Ethnic movements often supported and legitimisedthrough exclusive ethnic histories are thus means of asserting one's right overthe resources. Every community uses these ethnic histories meant to protect itslivelihood to declares itself the first inhabitants of a given area. Based onit the community demands exclusive rights over its resources and benefits.Thus, what causes conflicts is not history as such but the search for anexclusive identity because of economic shortages and attacks on their culture.History only legitimises the conflicts. That shows the need to take a new lookat the history of the Northeast and take steps towards a composite history thatmoves away from this exclusive approach and understand inter-dependence.
Search for Alternatives
With this in view theparticipants of the seminar on peace and conflicts organised by North EasternSocial Research Centre on October 16-17, 2007 suggested that an umbrella beprovided for persons who are in a position to take steps towards a compositehistory of the region. They hoped that through a long process that will takemany years, a few steps will be taken towards a history that unites the ethnicgroups instead of dividing them and taking them towards conflicts. Theparticipants suggested that NESRC take the initiative in bringing such personstogether for initial discussion. As a first step they suggested a series ofseminars in each State of the region to bring together scholars, peaceactivists and community leaders for a reflection on the conflicts and the roleof history in them.
The seminar of October14-15, 2007came after ten seminars held in different states of the region (Table 1). Eightseminars were held during 2008 (Table 2) in preparation for a national seminaron The Role of History in Conflicts and as a Tool of Peace in the Northeastbeing proposed in this project for the first week of October 2009. The aboveseminars as well as the one that is proposed are meant to be a platform forcivil society groups and for scholars in history and other social sciences tocome together in search of a common understanding of their society. It is hopedthat this discussion will continue in the form of a search for a compositehistory of the Northeast as support to peace.
A composite history of theNortheast will not solve the problems that result in ethnic conflicts but canbe an important step towards a solution to them. This step can support the initiativesof many civil society groups that have played an important role in addressingthe causes of ethnic conflicts in the region. With this in view theparticipants of the seminar on peace and conflicts, held in October 2007suggested that an umbrella be provided for persons who are in a position totake steps towards a composite history of the Northeast. It is hoped thatthrough a long process that will take many years, a few steps will be takentowards a history that unites the different ethnic instead of dividing them.The participants suggested that North Eastern Social Research Centre (NESRC)take the initiative in bringing such persons together for initial discussion.With that in view they suggested a series of seminars in each State of the regionto bring together scholars, peace activists and community leaders for areflection on the conflicts and the role of history in them. The presentproject is its follow up.
Steps Taken till Now
Ten seminars were held during2007 in preparation for the above region level seminar on peace processes inthe Northeast. We had realised by then that most states had many peaceactivists but they do not know each other. So the objective of these seminarswas to bring them together state by state under the same roof for a day or twoto share their experiences and find ways of coordinating their work. No effortwas made to coordinate them. We only provided an umbrella for them to shareexperiences. It was for them to decide whether and how they wanted to worktogether (list in Table 1).
Table 1: Seminars on Peace Initiatives Organised by NESRCin 2007
|
No. |
Title |
Place |
Dates |
Partner |
|
01. |
Peace Initiatives, Khasi Hills |
Shillong |
April 26, 2007 |
MLCU |
|
02. |
Peace Process in Manipur |
Imphal |
June 9, 2007 |
DSSS, Imphal |
|
03. |
Peace Process in Nagaland |
Dimapur |
June 30, 2007 |
Peace Channel |
|
04. |
Students in the Peace Process |
Tura |
June 16, 2007 |
None |
|
05. |
Students' Role in Peace |
Shillong |
July 14, 2007 |
None |
|
06. |
Land-related conflict in Tripura |
Agartala |
August 4-5, 2007 |
ASHA |
|
07. |
Land conflicts, Karbi Anglong |
Diphu |
August 11, 2007 |
Jirsong Asong |
|
08. |
Peace in the Garo Hills |
Tura |
August 13, 2007 |
None |
|
09. |
Students in Peace Initiatives |
Kohima |
Sept. 29, 2007 |
Peace Channel |
|
10. |
Migration & Conflicts |
Silchar |
Oct. 4, 2007 |
Assam University |
|
11. |
Conflicts & Peace in NE |
Guwahati |
Oct. 14-15, 2007 |
None |
These meetings culminated in theseminar of October 14-15, 2007. Its participants felt that eachgroup in conflicts wrote its own ethno-centric history to legitimise theconflict. A decision was therefore taken to follow up with seminars on history.That was done during 2008 in different states (Table 2). As a follow up tworegional seminars are being planned in 2009. The first of them will be ameeting of peace activists from five states of the Northeast on May7-8, 2009.It will be a continuation of the thirteen seminars held in 2007 and 9 in 2008.
Table 2: Seminars held January to September 2008& Planned in 2009
|
Sl. No |
Place |
Month/Date |
||
|
01 |
Follow up Planning |
NESRC, Guwahati |
8th January, 2008 |
None |
|
02 |
History of Conflicts |
Diphu College |
9th February, 2008 |
Jirsong Asong |
|
03 |
Garo-Khasi Conflicts |
Shillong |
29th March, 2008 |
MLCU |
|
04 |
Conflicts in Manipur |
Maram, Senapati |
22-23 Apr. 2008 |
DBC, Maram |
|
05 |
Conflicts in Nagaland |
Kohima |
26th July, 2008 |
Nagaland Univ. |
|
06 |
Conflicts in Manipur |
Imphal |
28th July, 2008 |
CEPEM, MU |
|
07 |
Conflicts in Assam |
Tezpur |
18th August, 2008 |
Tezpur Univ. |
|
08 |
Garo-Khasi Conflict |
Tura |
3-4 September 08 |
MLCU |
|
09 |
History and Conflicts |
Moranhat |
September 7, 08 |
Inst of Tai Studies |
|
10. |
Peace Activists Meet |
Guwahati |
May 7-8, 2009 |
None |
|
11. |
Composite NE History |
Guwahati |
October 2009 |
Planned |
The second is the region level history seminar being proposed in thisproject. The search for an alternative will continue at the proposed seminarwhich will be held around three themes each of which will be coordinated by ascholar who will prepare a concept paper on it and identify three or fourscholars to write papers on it. More persons will then be invited from thepossible invitee list given below. Priority will be given to persons chosen bythe coordinators even outside this list. More will be invited in consultationwith them from the list to participate or present papers.
1. Ethnic identity and the role ofhistory in the Northeast.
2. The role of history in variousconflicts in the Northeast.
3. Methodology of writing history asa tool for peace building.
Please fill thisform and return it immediately by email or to
North Eastern Social Research Centre, 110 Kharghuli Road (1st floor) Guwahati781004.
Email: walter [dot] nesrc [at] gmail [dot] com
Seminar on the Roleof History in Conflicts and Peace in Northeast India, October 27-29, 2009: Registration Form
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Tentative list of participants:
Dr Joy L. K. Pachua, JNU, New Delhi
Dr Sanghamitra Misra, Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi
Dr Sanghamitra Choudhury, New Delhi
Prof. Patrick Hoenig, Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi
Dr. Bodisatva Kar, CSSS, Kolkata
Dr George Thadathil, Principal, Sonada College, Darjeeling district
Dr Anungla Aier, Women's Studies Division, Nagaland University
Dr. Isaac Padinjarekattu, Principal,StJoseph's College, Jakhama, Nagaland.
Visakonu Hibo. Head, Dept. ofSociology, Japfu College, Kigwema, Nagaland
C. P. Anto, Director, PeaceChannel, Dimapur, Nagaland
Dr Kedilezho Kikhi, Nagaland University
Prof. Alphonsus D'Souza (Retd)formerly of Phesama, Nagaland
Akum Longchari, Executive Editor,The Morung Express, Dimapur
Prof. David Syiemlieh, NEHU,Shillong.
Dr Glenn Christo, VC, Martin Luther Christian University.
Dr Philip Abraham, Dawagre, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya.
Dr C. J. Thomas, Director, ICSSR-NERC
Dr Anthony Kaba, Department of History, Don Bosco College, Maram, Manipur
Dr Leban Serto, CEPEM, Manipur University;
Dr Deben Sharma, Peace Studies, Manipur
B Loitongbam, Imphal
B. Nattar, Manipur Government College, Imphal
Dr Sukhendu Deb Barma, Reader, Dept. of History, Tripura University
Dr Robert Tiba, Dept. of History, Diphu campus, Assam University
Prof. Ranju Dhamala, Assam University, Silchar, Assam.
Dr Sajal Nag, Department of History, Assam University, Silchar
Dr Chandan Sharma, Dept of Sociology, Tezpur University.
Dr K.Kabhi, Dept. of Mass Communications, Tezpuruniversity.
Prof. M. N. Karna, Dept. of Sociology, Tezpur University
Prof. Girin Phukan, Dept. of Political Science, Dibrugarh University;
Dr Dwijen Barman, Lecturer, Putimari College, Kamrup Rural district.
Dr Jayanta Sarmah, Nowgong Girls' College, Nagaon
Dr Gorky Chakravarty, Doom Dooma College, Tinsukia, Assam.
Dr Debabrata Sarmah, Jorhat College, Jorhat;
Dr Jerry Thomas, Principal, Don Bosco College, Jorhat;
Dr Yankahao Vashum, Eastern Theological College, Jorhat.
Dr Dilip Gogoi, Cotton College, Guwahati
Dr Sanjay Barbora, Panos South Asia, Guwahati.
Dr Nani Gopal Mahanta, Dept. of Pol. Sc. GuwahatiUniversity.
Dr Priyam Goswami, Dept. of History, Guwahati University
Dr Uttam Bathari, Deputy Director, ICHR-NERC, Guwahati
Ms Elizabeth Devi, Omeo Kumar Das ISCD, Guwahati
Prof. Anuradha Dutta, Omeo Kumar Das ISCD, Guwahati
MangneoLhungdim, Regional Manager, IGSSS, Guwahati
DrThomas Menamparampil, Guwahati
DrCatherine Chopefosa, NEDSF, Guwahati
Santiago Savari, Director, NEDSF,Guwahati
Prof.(Retd) Udayon Misra, Dibrugarh University (Guwahati)
Ravi Sagar, Director, Legal Cell forHuman Rights, Guwahati
TomMangattathuzhe, Diphu Citizens' Forum for Peace, Karbi Anglong
MsMeghali Senapati, TISS-NERC, Guwahati
DrSwabera Islam, K. C. Das Commerce College, Guwahati
DrArchana Sharma, Director, Women's Study Division, Gauhati University
DrAbraham Lotha, St Joseph's College, Jakhama, Nagaland
PranabJyoti Neog, Director, Xavier Foundation, Guwahati.
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